New York City officials are sounding the alarm on new federal work requirements for SNAP recipients that could leave New Yorkers without benefits.
The new federal law, which has requirements that will start to affect beneficiaries on June 1, could leave hundreds of thousands of households in the state without benefits.
Here’s what to know on the new work requirements, and how to prepare.
New SNAP Work Requirements Affecting New Yorkers
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed, planning to cut SNAP funding by approximately $187 billion — or 20% — over the next 10 years, according to Harvard Kennedy School’s faculty research. Under the act, changes were made to work requirements, who qualifies and what food can be purchased through the program.
For work requirements specifically, the Human Resources Administration was required to change its eligibility requirements for Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents, or ABAWD recipients, on SNAP.
These recipients were required to comply with the requirements beginning March 1, with benefit reductions set to begin as early as June 1, according to the NYC HRA.
As of March 2026, there were more than 1.7 million NYC residents on SNAP, city data shows, meaning that the effect on households in the city could be wide-ranging.
It was estimated that more than 300,000 households in the state could lose some or all of their benefits amid the changes, particularly because of the work requirements, according to an August release by the governor’s office.
“Food stamp work requirements don’t create jobs, they create hunger. If the federal government wanted to help people find work, it would invest in public jobs programs and guarantee a living wage,” Mamdani posted on the changing requirements.
“Instead, it’s punishing people who are already struggling to survive. These rules took effect on March 1, meaning benefit reductions could begin as early as June 1.”
Are My Work Requirements Changing for SNAP?
First, New Yorkers have to determine if they are considered an ABAWD recipient or not.
Typically falling within the age range of 18 to 64, to be considered an ABAWD it means you:
Do not live with a child under age 14 in your household
Are not pregnant
Are not caring for someone who cannot care for themselves
Do not have any mental or physical barriers from employment
Other factors may be considered, too. Accounts can be checked on nyc.gov/accesshra for an ABAWD notice, and letters were sent out in the mail, according to the agency.
What Are the New SNAP Work Requirements?
The new ABAWD rules stipulate that in order to keep receiving benefits for longer than three months every three years, you must complete 80 hours every month of one or more of the following:
Working
Participating in a training program that HRA approves
Participating in a training program for veterans run by either the Department of Labor or the Department of Veterans Affairs
Participating in a training program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) or Trade Act
Another way the HRA says recipients can meet the requirement is by “participating in a work experience activity approved by HRA or volunteering in a community service activity for the number of hours per month equal to the household’s SNAP benefit divided by the State minimum wage.”
The agency offers help with the requirements, and can be reached at 718-SNAP-NOW (718-762-7669) for questions on the new rules.
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